Animal trap



Jan. 14, 1930. PONCELET" ,743,389

ANIMAL TRAP Filed May 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Bymwm Attorney Jan. 14, 1930. M. PONCELET 3 3 v ANIMAL mar 'Filed May 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Shet 2 r /ll/f/f////L C D i Inventar- Wl-.flce/sf Atlanta Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMAL 'TR-AP Application filed May 28,

The present invention relates to improvements in animal traps and has reference more particularly to a rat trap that includes a housing having end and bottom ingress openings whereby the trap may be positioned over a hole in the floor, or against a wall formed with a rat hole in its side, or in a corner where the rat hole is located, a Swinging closure being provided tor the ingress end of the housing when the trap is placed over a hole formed in the floor, so that the rat must pass through the housing where it is caught, the closure being swung upwardly to an open position when the trap is positioned against a wall or in a corner.

A further object i to provide an animal trap which is simple in Construction, ineXpensive, strong and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is 0 designed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention proceeds and when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanyng drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rat trap showing the same in position against a wall,

with the door swung upwardly to an open position and the trap set.

Figure 2 is a similar View, showing the rat hole tormed in the side wall, as well as in the floor at the juncture of the floor with the side wall.

Figure 3 is a top plan View showing the position of the trap when placed in a corner where a rat hole is located.

Figure 4 is an elevational View showing the position of the trap located over a hole formed in the floor, the closure being Secured in its lowered closed position, and

Figure 5 is a front end elevation of the trap, the door being shown in an upwardly swung and open position.

In the drawngs, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l desig- 59- nates generally the housing of the rat trap,

1928. Serial No. 281376.

the same comprising a pair of parallel spaced Vertical side walls 2 and 3 respectively, formed of any suitable metal. Theupper edges of theside walls are bent outwardly as at 4,' and the lower edges of the side walls are 5 also bent outwardly as at '5. A plate 6 ex` tends across the 'laterally disposed flanges 4;

at the forward end portion of the housing, and any appropriate fastening neans extends through the side edges of the plate and the oo respective fianges as shown at 7 in the drawings. The side walls 2 and 3 are further secured together in parallel spaced relation by the forward end portion of the rectangular wooden base 8.

The base 8 is adapted to rest on the floor and lie fiush with the bottom faces of the' lower flanges 5 and suitable fastening means 9 eXtend through the lower edge portions of the side walls and into the adjacent side edges of the base 8.

The vertically swinging jaw that is pivotally m'ounted on the base 78 is designated by the numeral 10 and the spring which actuates the jaw is shown at 11. The pivoted treadle 12 is' relatively wide and is mounted forwardly of the pivotal connection between the jaw and the base. 'A lip 13 is arranged on the rear edge of the intermediate` portion of the pivoted treadle 12 'and pivotally secured on so the rear end portion of the base 8 is the lever 14, the same extending over the spring actu ated aw 10 and engaging the lip 13, whereby the aw 10 isheld in a set position. The ba'it is placed on the treadle in the usual manner, and when the parts are arranged as shown in the drawings, the jaw 10 is set so that when the animal touches the treadle '12, the lip 13 will be disengaged from the rear end of the pivotecl lever 14 and the spring 11 will automatically Swing the jaw 10 into a position whereby it will 'strike the animal-and hold the animal on the base against escape.

As this type of trap is well known in the art, no claim' is made thereto apart from the housing which is thesalient feature of the present invention.

The housing will be provided with aforward end and bottom ingTess opening, and a pvoted 1901 l is hingedly Secured &tits upper edge to the forward edge of the top plate 6, as at 16.

The door 15 is wider than the space between the side walls 2 and 3 of the housing 5 and formed in the lower edge portion of the door inwardly of the respective side edges thereof are the slots 17, with whieh'eooperate the pivoted hooks 18, arranged on the' outer faces of the respective side walls. i

When the trap is set in the position shown in Figure 1, the door 15 is swung upwardly and rearwardly over the top plate 6,50 that the forward edges of the side walls abut against the side wall A in which is formed the rut hole B, so that the open forward end of the housing forms an ingress opening-and when the trap isset', the rat upon entering the housing and stepping upon the treadle 12 will cause the trap to be Sprung and be caught. sa In Figure 2, the trap is shown as being positioned against theside wall of'a room that is formed with a rat bole, and also over a rat hole C, formed in the floor D, whereupon, both the forward end and the open bottom of gg' the housing provide ingress openings, sothat a rat cute-ring through either rat hole willbe able to reach the'settrap.

In Figure 3, I have shown the trap positioned in a corner of a room where the rat 3 hole E is located and the rat will enter the' trap through the opposed opening when the door 15 is swung upwardlyand is disposed over' the top plate 6;

In Figure4, the trap 'is shown with the I? housing positioned over a rat hole F formed in the floor G, and when in this position, the door 15 is swung downwardly to close 'the forward ingress opening and the hooks 18 engage with the slotted portions of the doorto secure the sa" same in its closed position. The bottom ingress opening *will be positioned directly over the rat hole F, so that the rat must step upon the treadle in order to escape through the open rear end of the housing, whereupon the 46:

Sprung and the animal will be caught.

It will thus be seen from' the foregoing description that Iihave provided an animal trap and a. housing for association therewith I that is very simple in construction and there.-

fore inexpe'nsive in itsmanufacture,yet strong and du'able. A trap ofthis character may not only be usedin catching .rats but may be used for catching other animals in an equally` r eflicient manner.

W hile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arv p clu'ding spaced sidewalls, outwardly extnd trap which has been initially set will be' sides of the trap, thehousing being provided with a bottom ingress opening at the forward end, a top plate extending across the flanges at the forward end portion of the housing, the forward'end of the housing providing an ingress opening, a closure for the open forward end of the housin hingedl Secured at its upper edge to the orward e ge of the top plate, the closure being of a width greater than the distance between the spaced side walls, the edge ortions of the hinged closure being formed wth SlOtS,' and hooks pivoted on the outer face of the-sidewalls adjacent the forward ends thereof for engagement with the respective slots to secure the closure in a. lowered position over the ingress opening at the forward end of the housing. r

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MATHIAS PONCELET. 

